DSettahr
Active member
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- Apr 23, 2005
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As for the fees to park at the Loj, there is another possible reason for them as well- it limits backcountry use of Marcy Dam. I know this sounds kind of contrary to how wilderness resources ought to be managed, and I agree that under most conditions, we shouldn't be doing anything to limit people's access to wilderness areas. We have to remember, though, that Marcy Dam is one of the most impacted backcountry destinations on the east coast, and quite possibly in the United States. The DEC has made it perfectly clear that if the impact at Marcy Dam cannot be brought under control in the near future, they will be forced to adopt more stringent methods of limiting the amount of visitors to Marcy Dam- the most likely method being a backcountry reservation system for campsites and lean-tos, similar to what the National Parks and National Forests use in a lot of places.
The best way to limit impact in a particular area is through dispersal- encouraging hikers to choose alternate destinations in areas that aren't as popular or as impacted, and parking fees are one way to do this (the garden in Keene also has a parking fee in summer, and the other trailheads that used to be on that road were closed in the 90's).
It's not the Adirondack Mountain Club's Master Plan, it's New York State's. The ADK did not write the Master Plan, the DEC and the Adirondack Park Agency did. The ADK did provide some input that was helpful in writing the plan.
It's important to remember that the ADK does not make any of the management decisions concerning state land in the Adirondacks, the DEC makes these decisions. The Adirondack Park Agency then must sign off on those decisions; if the APA disagrees, then it's up to the DEC to revise their decisions and resubmit them to the APA for approval. The ADK does provide a lot of input to the DEC that is helpful in making management decisions, but the ADK does not have any special privileges in doing so- any member of the public can provide input to the DEC. The DEC does publish draft management plans, and has public meetings that anyone can attend to meet with the DEC land managers in person and provide input (anyone can provide input via letters and phone calls as well).
I agree, but there is very little danger of this happening. Remember, it's illegal for New York State to sell it's land in the Adirondacks without a constitutional amendment permitting the sale. And in order to pass an amendment to the New York State constitution, the legislature has to vote in favor of the amendment twice (2 years in a row), and then it must go to a vote of the entire NYS population, where it most be approved by two-thirds of the voters. So, while it is possible that the what was state owned and run could become privatized, it's unlikely.
I took a look at the ACC's website, and I really don't see much of a difference between them and the ADK. In fact, it seems like the ACC is even more commercialized than the ADK... the ADK only operates 2 huts (1 backcountry) and one campground. In contrast, the ACC operates 28 backcountry huts. The ACC also charges fees to stay at these huts. One of the ACC's facilities even has a cafe!
Furthermore, both the ADK and the ACC lead guided trips, which must be paid for. Some of the ACC's guided trips can cost several thousand dollars. The ADK and the ACC also both sell guidebooks, maps, clothing, and some gear through their websites. I know the ADK also sells gear, maps, and guidebooks at Heart Lake and their headquarters in Lake George, I presume that the ACC has similar stores as well.
And the ADK also participates in trail maintenance/improvement, both through their professional crew (which works in summer and fall) and through volunteer work from ADK members. So, not much difference there either.
Well, it's not a state road, so I'm pretty sure that New York State isn't the one doing the plowing- I'd guess that it's probably the Village of Lake Placid that plows it (or possibly the county but I don't think it's a county road either). Loj road also has people that live on it (including folks who live at Heart Lake), South Meadows does not. And the vast majority of people who want to access the High Peaks from Loj Road want to do it via Heart Lake, not South Meadows. Again, it just doesn't make economic sense to spend the money on plowing a road that there is really very little demand to use, especially in winter.
And even though it's not plowed doesn't mean you can't access the High Peaks via South Meadows in winter- there is plenty of room at the start of the road in front of the cement barriers they put up, enough to park 6 or 7 cars. This space often does get plowed out as well to facilitate safe parking. Whenever I go in that way, I ski in as far as Marcy Dam- on skis, I can make it to the summer trailhead in a matter of minutes, and all the way to Marcy Dam in 45 minutes. So it really isn't a huge inconvenience.
The best way to limit impact in a particular area is through dispersal- encouraging hikers to choose alternate destinations in areas that aren't as popular or as impacted, and parking fees are one way to do this (the garden in Keene also has a parking fee in summer, and the other trailheads that used to be on that road were closed in the 90's).
It's not the Adirondack Mountain Club's Master Plan, it's New York State's. The ADK did not write the Master Plan, the DEC and the Adirondack Park Agency did. The ADK did provide some input that was helpful in writing the plan.
It's important to remember that the ADK does not make any of the management decisions concerning state land in the Adirondacks, the DEC makes these decisions. The Adirondack Park Agency then must sign off on those decisions; if the APA disagrees, then it's up to the DEC to revise their decisions and resubmit them to the APA for approval. The ADK does provide a lot of input to the DEC that is helpful in making management decisions, but the ADK does not have any special privileges in doing so- any member of the public can provide input to the DEC. The DEC does publish draft management plans, and has public meetings that anyone can attend to meet with the DEC land managers in person and provide input (anyone can provide input via letters and phone calls as well).
I agree, but there is very little danger of this happening. Remember, it's illegal for New York State to sell it's land in the Adirondacks without a constitutional amendment permitting the sale. And in order to pass an amendment to the New York State constitution, the legislature has to vote in favor of the amendment twice (2 years in a row), and then it must go to a vote of the entire NYS population, where it most be approved by two-thirds of the voters. So, while it is possible that the what was state owned and run could become privatized, it's unlikely.
I took a look at the ACC's website, and I really don't see much of a difference between them and the ADK. In fact, it seems like the ACC is even more commercialized than the ADK... the ADK only operates 2 huts (1 backcountry) and one campground. In contrast, the ACC operates 28 backcountry huts. The ACC also charges fees to stay at these huts. One of the ACC's facilities even has a cafe!
Furthermore, both the ADK and the ACC lead guided trips, which must be paid for. Some of the ACC's guided trips can cost several thousand dollars. The ADK and the ACC also both sell guidebooks, maps, clothing, and some gear through their websites. I know the ADK also sells gear, maps, and guidebooks at Heart Lake and their headquarters in Lake George, I presume that the ACC has similar stores as well.
And the ADK also participates in trail maintenance/improvement, both through their professional crew (which works in summer and fall) and through volunteer work from ADK members.
So, not much difference there either.Well, it's not a state road, so I'm pretty sure that New York State isn't the one doing the plowing- I'd guess that it's probably the Village of Lake Placid that plows it (or possibly the county but I don't think it's a county road either). Loj road also has people that live on it (including folks who live at Heart Lake), South Meadows does not. And the vast majority of people who want to access the High Peaks from Loj Road want to do it via Heart Lake, not South Meadows. Again, it just doesn't make economic sense to spend the money on plowing a road that there is really very little demand to use, especially in winter.
And even though it's not plowed doesn't mean you can't access the High Peaks via South Meadows in winter- there is plenty of room at the start of the road in front of the cement barriers they put up, enough to park 6 or 7 cars. This space often does get plowed out as well to facilitate safe parking. Whenever I go in that way, I ski in as far as Marcy Dam- on skis, I can make it to the summer trailhead in a matter of minutes, and all the way to Marcy Dam in 45 minutes. So it really isn't a huge inconvenience.
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